Automatic conveyer



March 26, 1929. w. R. AITKEN AUTOMATIC CONVEYER 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed 001;.16, 1926 mm RNN Q. w m mm Ni 6 Q3 %m n W I 3 mm wm Nw N qmw 1w WWW E Q Q w @m mwkm wm ww Q W m 5 g Q N 4 .H YA Wm mm %m r .mm N N R n u u g N I Q R .WN. NM Wk I b R k mm 5 Sheets-Sheet W. R. AITKEN AUTOMATIC CONVEYER Flled Oct 16 1925 March 26, 1929.

March 26, 1929. w R AlTKEN AUTOMATIC CONVEYE'R 5 Sheets-Shae t Filed Oct. 16, 1926 Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

'WILLIAM R. AITKEN, OF HOPKINS, MINNESQ'E'A.

AUTOMATIC CONVEYER.

Application filed October 16, 1926. Serial No;1 l2,653.

This invention aims to provide novel means for conveying material, and to pro vide novel inc-ens whereby the intake end of the conveying mechanism may be advanced into a pile of n'iaterial, whilst part of the innterial being carried away by the eonve yin mec anism.

lit is within the province of the disclosure to ilHPlOVG generally and to enhance the i that type to which the utility of devices of rention appertains.

lVith the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription procoeds the invention resides in the co1nbinetion sud arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit'of the invention.

ln the accompanying drawings z- Figure 1 shows in side elevation, a device constructed in accordance with the inventionyparts being broken sway; V

Figure 2 is a top plan; Figure vertical longitudinal section wherein parts are broken away;

Figure 41- is a fraginental horizontal section tak n on the line l-fl of Figure 1;

ll un is atninsverse section on the line tritnsi erse section on the line of this application. con'iprises a liner sup ort which is denoted generally by the nuieral 1. The support iris trough-shaped in cr sc section as disclosed in Figures 7, 8 d 6. The support 1 is provided at its up p r edges with outwardly flared wings 2. A table 3 extends longitudinally of the support 1 and is located within the support. train tracks 4 are mounted onthe side walls of the trough-shaped support 1 and are dis posed above the table'3. Upper tracks 5 are i'i'iounted on the table 3 at the edges thereof. Lower tracks 6 are mounted on the sides of the support 1 and are located below the table 3.

The numeral 7 marks a downwardly and forwardly inclined chute which isloceted at the rear of the support 1. The chute 7 is provided at itsupper edges with outwz dly flared Wings 8. As shown at 9 in Figure 2-3, the forward portions of the wings 8 of the chute 7 overlap upon the rear portions of the wings 2 of the support 1. The side walls of the chute 7 may be connected to the corres ionding ports of the support 1 by attaching elements 19, and the lower portion. of the forward end of the chute 7 may oe connected to the lower portion of the rear end of the support 1 in any suitable way, as indicated at 20. At its rear end, the chute 7 has hearing brackets 10 carrying l1ooh-sl1aped hangers 11 adaptedto be engaged with the hearings 12 of a corn sheller or other l11StF1U11011- tality, a drive shaft 14 being; journaled in the bearings 12. Although the machine may be used to handle material of various kinds, it will be a nod, to avoid needless repetition, that corn is the material to be handled. The chute 7 his a longitudinal table 1.5 eorresponding to the table 3 of the support 1. The table 15 may be joined torthc table 3 as indicated. at 16. Upper tracks 17 are mounted on the table 15 at the sides of the chute and lower tracks 18 are mounted on the side walls of the chute at some distance below the table 15.

' A forward shaft 21 is journaled for rotationin adjustable bearin rs 22 carried by the supportl near to the :itorwurd end of the support, as Figure 1 will best disclose. Sprocket wheels 23 are mounted on the for- Wlll'tl shaft21, within the support 1, as shown in Figure 11 rear shaft 2 1; is journuled in the support 1 near to the hack end of the support. The rear shaft 24. carries sprocket wheels 25. Guides 6 are mounted on the side portions of thesupportl near to the rear end thereof. 1'1 shaft 27 is mounted to rotate in the bearing bracltets 10 of the chute 7. There are sprocket wheels 28 on the shaft 27, the sprocket wheels 28 being located within thechute 7, as Figure 3 will show.

A chain convey er is engaged around the sprocket wheels 23 on the forward shaft 21 the upper and lower runsof the chain conveyeii- 29 cooperating; with each of the wheels on the shaft 24:, and the chain con- Vcyer being engaged around the sprocket wheels 28 on the shaft 27. The chains of the conveyor 29 carry wheels 30 adapted to roll along the upper tracks 5 of the support 1 along theupper tracks 1'? oi the chute 7 along the lowerti'acks 18 of the chute 7, and

I along the lower tracks 6 ofthe support 1. The chains'of the conveyor 29 are connected ail) by scraper plates 31 which move along the table 3 of the support 1, along the part 16 shown in Figure 3, and along the table 15 of the chute 7. As seen in Figure 2, there is a sprocket wheel 32 on the shaft 27, the sprocket wheel 32 being connected by a sprocket chain 33 with a sprocketwheel 3% on the drive shaft 1-1.

The machine comprises a trough-shaped conveyer truck 35, disposed. above the support depending bearings 39 wherein is journaled a shaft L0 carrymg wheels 41 adapted to roll along the main tracks4 .of'the support 1. The downwardly and forwardly inclined end 36 of the conveyor truck carries bearings 12 wherein is ournaled a shaft 43 provided with wheels 44 adapted to roll along the floor 4-5.

of the buildingwherein the device is employed, although any suitable means may be provided .wherewi th thewheels 4d cooperate. In any event, the wheels 44: and 41 support the conveyer truck 35 for longitudinal movement with respect to the fixed support 1. Located within the con'veyertruck 35 is a table 46, part of which slants downwardly to correspond with the slope of the part 36 of the conveyer truck. "Upper tracks. 47 are. mounted on the table46. Lower tracks 4-8 are carried bythe side'portions of the conveyer truck 35 and are disposed below'the table 46.

A forward shaft 19 is journaled for rotation inthedownwardly and forwardly inclined'en d 36 of theconveyer truck 35. There are sprocket wheels 50 on the shaft 49. A rear sliaft51 1s ]ournaled on the rear part of the conveyer truck 35. There are sprocket wheels 52on the rear shaft 51. A chain. conveyer '53 is. engaged about the sprocket wheels 52v and 50. The 'chains'of the conveyer 53 are suppliedwith wheels which move along the upper tracks f? and along the lower tracks 48. The chains-of the'conveyer 53 are connected by scraper plates 54 which move along thetable 46.

' There are sprocket wheels on the ends of 'the shaft-d9, the sprocket wheels being designated by the numeral'56 andbeing engaged by sprocket chains 57 which are engaged with sprocket wheels 58 one shaft 59 mounted to rotatein the inclinee end 36 of the conveyer truck 35. The sprocket wheels 56, the chains 57 and the sprocket wheels .58 are inclosed within casing '60 which are carried by the part 36 of the conveyor truck 35. On the shaft 59 is located a rotary feeder, made up of a hub 61 and projecting spokes (52.

There are sprocket wheels 63 on the shaft 24. Sprocket wheels (34 are mounted on the shaft 27. The sprocket wheels (33 and (31: a re engaged by sprocket chains (35. A sprocket wheel 66 is mounted on the shaft 21. A sprocket wheel 67 is carried by the shaft 51. An idler 68 is journaled on tho side of the coin veyer truck 37 at a point slightly in front of the sprocket wheel 67. There is a sprocket wheel 69 on the shaft 21. A sprocket chain 70 is engaged about the sprocket wheel (39. about the sprocket wheel 67, and about the sprocket wheel 66, the upper run of the sprocket chain 70 passing beneath the idler 08.

An eccentric 71 is mounted on the shaft 24. The eccentric 71 cooperates with a. strap 79. on an operating rod 73 having a. lateral fin ger 74 that is adjustable in a guide slot 75 formed in a radius arm 76 mounted to swing on a shaft 77, journaled in the support 1. The operating rod 73 reciprocates in a guide 92', pivoted to a link 94 which, in its turn, is pivoted in a bell crank lever 95 which is fulcrumed. at 96 on a segment 97 carried by a frame 99 on the side of the support 1. the bell crank lever 95 being supplied with alatch mechanism 98 adapted to cooperate with the segment 97.

A pawl 78 is pivoted to the radius arm Ti; and is provided with an eye 79 adapted to be engaged, undercircumstances which will be pointed out hereinafter, with a book 80 or other latch mounted on the radius arm 76. A ratchet wheel 81 is fixed to the shaft 77. There are drums 82 on the shaft 77, outwardly of the support 1, as Figurcs 6 and 2 will show. Idlers 83 are journalcd on the sides of the support 1 near to the forward end o l the support. Flexible elements 8 1- arc wound about the drums S2 and are looped around the idl'ers 83. The flexible elements H are crossed upon themselves as at 85, and the ends of the flexible elements 84- are anchored as shown at 86, upon the conveyor truck 35, at spaced points on the conveyor truck.

Noting Figures 41- and 7 es wi-ially. it will be seen that a sprocket whccl 87 is mounted on the shaft 77, the sprocket whccl being ongaged by a sprocket chain SSwhich is engaged with a sprocket wheel 89 rotatable on ushaft 24 but adapted to be connected with the said shaft. to turn therewith, through lhc in-- strmnentality of a clutch 90 which is splincd upon the shaft 24. the clutch being operated by a lever 91 which is fulcrumcd on a bracket 92 carried by one side of a support 1.

There are four main operations in connection with the working of the machine and those operations are, the driving of the conveyer 53 and 29; the ad *ancing of the conveyer truck to keep the rotary 'fccdcr 61-62 always engaged with the pile of matellll lll') to cause the radius a in 76 to rial; the adjustment at the will of an operator, of the speed at which the conveyor truck 35 and the feeder 6l-62 are advanced into the material; and the returning of the conveyor truck 35 to the position depicted in Figure 3, after the conveyor truck has been advanced to tl'ielin'iit.

Relative to the dri ing of the conveyors, it may be stated that th shaft it turns the sprocket wheel 3st, spire ketchein 33 open ting the sprocket Wheel. 32 and rotating the sheiift 2?, the sprocket Wheels in'iparting; movement to the conveyor 29. When the shaft 27 rotate l, the sprocket wheels (i l; operate the chains and drive the sp Wheels 68, rotetion thus being iin'pai" the shaft 24L. i /hen the shaft is rotated, the sprocket Whcet: 25 thereon, aid in ectuat ingthe conveyer 29. V2 hen the shaft 24. rotated, the spr ,chet Wheel 66 thereon drives the chain 70, tl'ie chain turnine t 1e sprocket wheei 69, and rotation thus being imparted to the forward shaitt 551. The sproclmt wheelsEZil on the shaft raid in ope 'etin the COHVOYQI The chain 70, cooperating with the sprocket Wheel 67. rotates the shaitt 51. and the sprocket wheels 52 actuate the chain conveyer 58. T he chain. convey-er 53 turns the sheet. 4-9 by way oi the sprocket Wheel 50, end the sprocket Wheels 56 on the shah, the sprocket wheels :38 and rotation hein iinperted to the shaft and to The next opcretien to he considered is the advancing ot the conveyor truck 35 to thrust the rotary feeder G1 into the pile cit corn or other nieteriai. in this connection, it may he stated that the drive shaft 14 operates the sprocket whee Fit, the sprocket chain 38 drivingthe spro *lzet Wheel on, and rotation being imparted to the she-fit 2?. The sprocket Wheels (it end the chains rotate the sprocket wheels 63, rotation being imported to the 2st. The eccentric 71 on the shaft 2 cooper tes with the strap 72 and the rod '73 swing; on the shaft *W, the finger 14C of the rod being located in the slot 75 ot the radius arm 76. i When the radius a m 76 is caused to swing ZiiifOifGStl l, the pawl 78 on the radius arm T6, coog ierating Wi'h the ratchet Wheel. on the shett 77, will import rotation to the siiettt 77, the drums 8. on the shaft 77 moving the :tiexible elements endivise, the conveyor truck 35 thus being admnced, because the flexible elen'ients 8d are an -hored at 86 to the con veyer truck The speed with which the conveyertruclt "s advanced may be regulated at the will of an operator. This is done by s-nvinging the lever the link 9% raising or lowering; the being; raised or lowered, the finger/I i on the rod being shifted, accordingly, in the slot 7 4:9 operate the chains 52 the chains driv the feeder de the forward end 51- the rod 73 of the radius arm 76, thereby to vary the otiective lei'igth of the radius arm and to chenge the throw of the pawl 78 with respect to the ratchet Wheel 81, the niovei'nent of the d runs 82 and the fiexihie Ql.'- ,.I1Q.Ilil 84; being adjust; ed accordingly.

Rolativeto retracting the conveyor trnch 35, the pawl 78 is disengaged from the ratchet Wheei Si and is held out of ei gnip enient with the ratchet wheel by hooking; the hitch 8U into the eye 70 on the pawl 78. llhe lever 91 operated to cause the clutch to coir-pie the sprocket Wheel 89 to the shatt 24, am, when the shaft 2% is rotated, in the way hereinbe'lore pointed out, the chain 88., coecting with the sprocket Wheel Wiil rotate the shaft- 77, the d inns coope sting nith the flexible elenjients 8 1-, to d aw hack the conveyer truck 3o into the position shown in Figure 1.

So for a s the gener: l 01 eration of the machine is concerned, the :ieeder (iii-62 agitetcs the material and the chain conveyor 53 carries the motorist baciin'erdly andv dc posits it on the :lieinconveyei' 29, the chain conveyor 2t, in its turn, carrying the material baclnvardly out oil: the machine. The conveyer truck 35 and the conveyor 53 are shitt ed bodily "forward, "for the 1, nirpose s 'ieciiicd, and as the conveyor truck 35 moves tot-w: rdly, the corner other lllht'flliill. is still depositiwl by the'conveyei' 52 on the corwoyer 2&

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In a device ot the class described, a support, a first conveyor movable on the support, a conveyor truck movable on the support, a second conveyor inovahle on the TI'HOiI and discharging on the first conveyei', a shaft sup ported for rotation, means tor connecting: the s iai't operetively with the truck, to move the truck with respect to the material he coneyed, and mechanism for actuating; the shaft, said mechanism coin inising a atchet wheel on the shaft, a radius ar'in mounted for swinging; nioveninit, a pawl on the radius arm, and eooperatin with the rotciiet Wheel, and means for operating the radius sun.

2-. In a device oft theclass described, sup port, a first conveyor movable on the support, a conveyor truck inoveole on the support, a second conveyor movable on the truck and discharging on the hrst conveyor, :1 she..t supported -for rotation, means for connecting the shaft operatively with the truck, to move the truck With respect to the material to be conve ed and mechanism for actuating the shaft, said mechanism embodying e. 'edius arn'i mounted for sivingni movement, inc-ens for imparting movement from the rad ins arm to the shaft, an operating: rod, means for no testing the operating rod, e shi'itnl 1e connection between the rod end the redius arin, and

3. In a device of the class described, a support, a first conveyer movable on the support, a conveyor truck movable on the support a second conveyer movable on the truck and -discharging :on the first'conveyer, a shaft supported for rotation, mechanism'tor actuating the shaft, and means for connecting the shaft operativelywith the ti uck to move the truck with respect to the material to be conveyed, said n'i-eans comprising flexible element wound in its intermediate portionabout the shaft, and means for anchoring the ends rot the flexible element to the truck.

i all i. do eicri'cct a su 4C In t Cl61 e oi o cl s d s b l 1 p port, a hrst conveyor movable on the support,

a conveyer truck movable on the support, 1

second conveyer movable on the truck and discharging on the first conveyor, a sha'tt sup ported for rotation, means for conn cting the shat't operatively with the truck, to move the truck with respect to the material to be conveyet, and mechanism for actuating the shaft, said mechanism embodying a radius arm mounted for swinging movement, pawl and ratchetconnection between the radius arm and the shaft,an eccentric supported tor rotation, means for rotating the eccentric, an

operating member having a strap engaging the eccentric, ashircable connection between the operatingmember and the radius arm,

and means under the control 0'! an operator for shifting the. connection along the radius arm V 5. In a device of the class described, asupport, a lirst'co nveyer movable onth'e support, a conveyer truck movable longitudinally of cos i a ev ver no new th 11))0 t, s tend con'e v bl m eccentric on the second shaft, an operating member having a strap cooperating with the eccentric, a'connection bet-ween the ogeratmg member and the radius arm, and a driving jconnection between the shafts, said driving connection including a clutch whereby the driving connection may be rendered inoperative.

6. In a device of the class described, a support, a first conveyor movable on the support, a conveyor truck movable lougitudimllly ol' the support, a second conveyor movable on the truck and discharging on the lirst conve ver, a first and a second shaft supported for rotation, 21 llexiole element engaged in its intermediate portion about the first shatt and connected a 1 its ends to the conveyor truck, a radius arm mounted for swinging lllOVt neut, a pawl'on the radius arm, a ratchet wheel on the lirst shaft and coat-ting with the pawl, an ec ntric on the secone shaft, an operating member having a strap cooperating with the eccrntric, a connection between the operalim); member and the radius arm, and a driving connection between the shafts, said driving connection includinga clutch whereby the driving connection may be rendered inoperative, and m ans under the control of an operator and engaging the operating member to shitt the first-specified connection along the radius arm in a device of the class described, a support, a first conveyor movable on the support. conveyor truck movable on the support, a second conveyor movable on the truck and discharging on the first conveyor, a rotatable member, means for connecting the rotatable meml'icr ope atively with the truck to more, the truck with respect to the material to be conveyed, and mechanism to? actuating the rotatable member, said mechanism embodying a radius arm mounted tor swinging movement, an operating rod, means tor driving the operating rod, a shittable connection between the operating rod and the radius arm, a slide wherein the operating rod reciprocates, a lever under the control of an operator, means for holding the lever in adjusted positions, and means for mounting the slide on the lever, the lever constituting means whereby the shii'table connection may be moved along the radius arm.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto allixcd my signature.

lVILLIAM ll. Al'lKl lN.

ill 

